Automobile-engine stop



F. L. CANTRALL.

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE STOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. H. 1919.

I 1,377,002. Pa tentpd'May 3,1921;

2 'SHEETSSHEET l.

WITNESS v I N V EN TOR 65, 6 i orr'esf .5, C(// f,w//

By {WW W Y -%L d ATTORNEYS WI TN E SS 'F. L. CANTRALL.

AUTOMOBILE ENGINE STOP/ APPLICATION FILED APR. 14,1919.

Patented'May 3, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR fresf Z. Cawf/w// BY #7575 v M 4 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

FORREST L. CANTRALL, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO HARRY M. IBENNETT, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. I

AUTOMOBILE-ENGINIE} szror.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented Liay 3, 1921,

Application filed April 14, 1919. SeriaI'No. 289,855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FORREST L. CANTRALL,

' a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oakland, county ofAlameda, and State of California, have invented anew and usefulAutomobile-Engine Stop, ofyvhich the following is a specification;

My invention relates to' means for automatically stopping the operationof an automobile engine. v 7

An object ofthe invention is to provide means, operating automatically,for interrupting the spark of an automobile engine so that when thedriver is away from the car, the engine can not be left running.

Another object of he invention 1s to pro vide aidevice of thechara'cterdescribed embodying automatically'operating means for admittingadditional air into the intake manifold while the engine is running.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set-forth in the follow- 7 'ingdescription of the preferred form of my inventionwhich is illustrated inthe-draw ings accompanying and formingpart of the specification. It isto be understood that-I do not limit myself to the showing made by thesaid drawings'and. descriptiom'as I may adopt variationsofthe preferredform within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referringto the drawings: Figure 1" is a side elevation of a portion'ofan automobile engine with the device of my invention applied thereto. A,portion of the gear shift lever by which my device is operated is alsoshown on the left side of the" figure; l

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal SQCtlOIlitl'YlGW taken in the plane 3-3 of Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of my device,taken in the plane 4-4 of Fig. 2. A diagram of the spark circuit is alsoshown.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional viewthroug a portion of my device, takenin the 55 of Fig. 4. .7

Owners of automobile delivery trucks have found that a large saving infuel cojild be effected if the drivers could be induced to shut off theengine when the vehicle is left standing during deliveries. .iThis hasbeen found to be impracticable audit is therefore lane one of theobjects of my invention to provide,

a means of automatic control, the operation of {which is initiated whenthe transmission system'ofthe car is rendered inoperative, as itnecessarily must be when the'car is brought to rest without stopping theengine, In the transmission system I include change gears,

clutch and other, mechanism betweenthe engine and the driving axle.

. and is provided with a valve operated by movement of the gear shiftlever; Movement of the valve operates toplaceeither 'one'of thecylinders in communication with the intake manifold so that the partialvacuum therein is utilized to move the piston inthe connected cylinder.One of,these pistons constitutes avalve for the admission of additionalairinto' the manifold under certain conditions. 'The other pistonoperates a circuit closing and opening mechanism for controlling thespark circuit, and

movement of this piston is regulated by its connection to the piston inthe'third cylin der which constitutes a dash pot.

If'the engine of the car is left running,

the gear shift lever must be brought to neutralposition. Such movementof the lever effects a connection of the manifold to the cylindercontaining the piston which operates the circuit closing and openingmechanism, and. within a predetermined interval,

the spark is discontinued and the engine stops, upon which the pistonand circuit closing-and opening mechanism return to first position whichrestores the spark circuit.

When'the engine is again started and the gearshift lever moved, theothercylinder is con'nectedj to the manifold and the valve thereinpermits air to be drawn into the manifold under heavy load or high speedconditions.

, In detailedterms my invention comprises a base 2 provided with anipple 3 adapted to be connected into the. intake manifold 4 of anengine 6 by the elbow 7. The base is i formed with the passage -8through the nip-' Y ple and opening into a cylindrical bore 9 in which aslide valve 10,,isfada-pt dtolie re'-' =ciprocated. An aperturedicap itin the opposite direction. The cam is formed on the slide 14 arranged inthe guide sleeve 16 and connected'by therod- 17 to the gear shift lever18 of the car. The slide valve 10 is provided with two annular chambersseparated by the flange 19, and movement of the gear shift lever, inconnection with the spring 12, effects a movement of the valve 10 sothat the flange 19 is either to one side or the other of the opening ofthe passage 8 into the bore 9. Opening into the bore 9, one on each sideof the flange 19, are

passages 21 and 22, and movement of the flange 19 to one sideor theother of the opening of the passage 8. thus places that passage incommunication with either passage 2 1 or 22 as the case may be.

the sleeve, theby-pass may be opened or closed the desired amount toregulate the 31 inclosing and threaded to the piston rod 32, the lowerend of the sleeve lying adjacent the upper opening of the by-pass. Thecylinder 27 is .filled with oil, and by turning speed at which thepiston 28 moves. A lock nut 32 fixes the sleeve on the piston rod in thedesired adjustment. 24 is a rod 33 passing loosely through the cap 34and provided with. a. rigidly fixed arm 35.which is forined with a yoke36 adapted to seat in an annular groove in the head of the sleeve-31 sothat adjustment of the sleeve not interferedwith. :The two pistons 24 iand 28 are thus connected together and the I speed with which the piston24 moves is 7 p icontrolled by the piston 28. Intermediate 'fthe ends ofthe cylinder 23 ablock 37 formed in two parts is disposed, the outerportion '37 being separated from the main portion Fixed in the piston.

by a layer 38 of insulating material. A-

chamber 39 opening into the cylinder 23, as best shown in Fig. 4, isformed in the block'and contains the circuit closing and" opening meansactuated by the piston 24.

Arranged in the block 37 are two pins 41 and 42 which projectiinto' thechamber 39 The inner end of pin42.providesoacontact point, and on'pin 41"is' pivotally mounted.

the switch lever 43 pressed by the spring 44 into contact with thepin"42 ,when permitted to move in that direction. The underside of theswitch lever is provided with a raised seat'47 in which the" pin 48' ofinsulating material is adapted to lie, holding the lever out of contactwith the pin 42. The pin 48 is fixed on the lever 49 pivoted in theblock 37 by pin 50, and extending adjacent the ton during its movement.

piston 24, where its ehd lies within a recess 51 cut in the piston.

The outer ends of the pins 41 and 42 form terminals to which areconnected conductors 53, Fig. 4. One of these conductors is connectedinto that'portion '54 of the spark circuit running from the magneto 55to the distributer 56, and the other conductor is grounded on the engine6; A spark plug '57 for one cylinder only is shown in Fig. 4.

One side of both magneto and spark are shown grounded on the engineaccording to usual practice. nected in parallel with the spark, andclosingthe circuit through the switch lever 43 short circuits themagneto and interrupts the spark.

Arranged on the base 2iadjacent the cylinder 23 is the cylinder 61,having the slot 62 formed in the wall thereof. The passage 22 opens intothe bottom of the cylinder and a piston valve 63 is disposed in thecylinder The .device is 'thus conand normally held in the upper partthereof by the spring 64. An annular chamber66 is'formed about thepisthh' valve and'lies opposite the slot 62 whenthepiston isin its upperpositio'n. Passages 67Fin"the-piston,

connect the chamber 66 with the inside of the cylinder. The piston valve63 is sufliciently' loose in the cylinder to permit air to pass to andfrom the chamber above the pishe gradual passving of the air to or fromt echamber prevents too abrupt movement of the piston.

Opemtcon.The engine of the car is assumed tobe running. .The piston 24and switch mechanism are in the positions shown in Figs. '2 and 5, thecircuit through the conductors 53 being interrupted. With the gear leverout of neutral, the cam 13 is in either position 68 or 69,'and the valve10 is thrown to the left (of Fig. 3) by the spring 12 so that passage 8is connected to passage 22,

that is, the manifold is connected to the cylinder 61. At lowenginespeeds, with small loads the-butterfly valve will be partiallyclosed and the vacuum in-the manifold relatively high. The piston valve63 is, 'thereis. drawn into the 'fuel'inixtiif'e'," through the. slot62. During operation, therefore, the

piston valve responds .to the degree of vacuum in the manifold,admitting or shutting ofi' the additional air according to the demand ofthe engine.

When the car is stopped, the gear shift lever I must be brought toneutral position. This moves the cam 13 across the end of valve 10, asshown in Fig. .3, moving the valve to the right (of Fig. 3) andconnecting the assage 8 to passage 21, that is, the maniold is connectedto the cylinder 23. c If the engine is left running, the partial 'vacuumin the manifold sucks the piston 24 downwardly at a speed determined bythe dash pot adjustment. After a short movement of thepiston the. uppershoulder of the recess 51 engages the end of the lever 49, which thenmoves with the piston, about its pivot 5 0; unseating the pin 48, Fig.5, from the seat 47 [and allowing the spring pressed switch arm 43 todrop into contact with terminal pin 42. This completes a short circuitof the magneto, interriipting the spark and stopping the engine. ,Withthe stopping of the engine, the vacuum is released and, under theinfluence of the spring, the piston rises,

lifting the switch lever and breaking the short circuit. The das potmechanism is 42 and downward movement of the piston actuating means.

breaks this contact tointerrupt the spark. 'Iclaim: U 1. An attachmentfor automobile engines comprising means for stoppingthe engine,

'means operated by the engine for actuating said stopping means, andmeans effective when the transmission system of the automobile isinoperative 'for initiating the opera tion of said actuating means- K 2.An attachment for automobile engines comprising means for interruptingthe spark, means operated by the engine for actuating said interruptingmeans, and meanseffective when the transmission system of the automo-'bile is inoperative forinitiating the operation of said actuating means.

3. An attachment for-automobile engines comprisin means for shortcircuiting the ignition circuit, means operatedby the engine foractuating said short circuiting means, and means 'efiectiye when thetransmission system ofthe automobile is inoperative for initiating theoperation of said,-

4. An attachment for automobile'engines comprising means for stoppingthe engine, a

' cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for actuat v ing said stoppingmeans, and means for connecting said cylinder to the intake manifold ofthe engine whereby said cylinder is vacuumize v cylinder and saidpiston.

5. A11 attachment for automobile engines comprising means for stoppingthe engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for actuating saidstopping means, and means operated when the transmission gears areshifted to neutral position for connecting said cylinder to the intakemanifold of said engine whereby said cylinder is vacuumized. v

6. An attachment for automobile engines comprising means for stoppingthe engine, a

cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for actuating said stopping means, apassage connecting said cylinder to the intake manifold of the engine, aslide valve for opening and closing said passage, and means operatedwhen the transmission system of the automo bile is rendered inoperativefor moving said slide valve to open said passage.

7. An attachment for automobileenginescomprising means 'for stopping theengine, a cylinder, a piston in'said cylinder for actuatingsaid stoppingmeans, a passage connecting said cylinder to the intake manifold of Ithe engine, a slide valve for openingand bios- I I l l mg saidpassage,and a cam mediately connected to; the gear change lever of theautomobile fo'r moving said slide valve to 'open said passage.

8. An attachment for automobile engines comprising means for stoppingthe engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder for actuating saidstopping means, a passage connecting said cylinder to the intakemanifold of the engine, a slide valve for opening and closing saidpassage, a cam mediately.

connected to the gear change lever of the.

one direction, and resilient means for moving sa d slide valve 1n theother d rection.

'9. An attachment for automobile engines comprising a cylinder, a pistonin saidcyliri: der,'c1rcu1t closing and opening means associated withthe ignition circuit and operated by said piston, and means. forconnecting s'aidcylinder'to the intake manifold of said engine.

10; An attachment for automobile engines I comprising a cylinder, apiston in said cylin der, circuit closing and opening means associatedwith the ignition circuit and operated saidgpi'ston, 'and meansassociated with the gear shift lever of the automobile for 1 connecting.said cylinder to the intake manifold of said engine. v I

. 11. An attachment for autom bile engines comprising acyli'nder, apiston i said cylin;

automobile for moving said slide valve in a der, circuit closing andopening means asso-""-' "ciated with the ignitioncircuit-and operated bysaid. piston, means for connecting said cyl nder to the intake manifoldofsaidiengine, and a spring interposed between said 12. 'Anattachmentfor automobile comprising a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder. circuitclosing and opening means assoengines i 20 1 associated with theignition circuits and *opciated with the ignition circuit and operatedby said ,piston, means for connecting said cylinder totheintake manifoldof said en'- gine, and means for regulating the speed of movement ofsaid piston.

13. An attachment for automobile engines comprising a cylinder, a pistonin'saidcylinder, circuit closing and opening means associated with theignition circuit and operated by said piston, means associated with thegear shift lever for connecting said cylinder tov the intake manifold ofsaid engine, a

second cylinderjadapted to contain oil, anda pi'stonconnected to thefirst mentioned piston arranged in said second cylinder for controllingthe speed of movement of the first piston.

4. An attachment for automobile e'ngines comprisinga cylinder, a pistonin said cylinder, circuit closing and openinggm'eans 1- erated bysaidpiston, means associated with the gearshift lever for connectingsaid cyl- 'inder to the intake manifold of said engme whereby said 1piston isr moved to] operate said circuit closing i and oening1means",,and a spring for moving s'ai f piston'inthe oppositedirection to per'ate said cir ing and opening means. v

I 15. 'An attachmentq-"for. 3 aiitomobileengines comprising a cylinder,Ia "Liston haw: ing a-recess and arranged insafid c linden, agpivoted'lever extending. into sai i-recess whereby movementof thepiston effects a movement of thelever toward the end of its'stroke,circuitclosing and opening means I operated by said lever, and meansassociatedwith the gear shift lever for c0nnecting said cylinder to theintake manifold of said engine;

16; An attachment for automobile en 1 gines comprising a cylinder,apiston having a' recess and arranged in'said cylinder, a

pivoted lever extending into said recess whereby movement of the pistoneffects a movement of the lever toward the end of its stroke, circuitclosing and opening means,

operated by said lever, means associated with the gear shift lever forconnecting said cylinder to the intake manifold ofsaid engine wherebythe piston is moved to operate said lever, and .a spring-interposedbetween the piston and the cylinder for effecting a recovery movement ofsaid ate said lever.

' 17. An attachment for automobile engines comprising a cylinder, apiston havpiston to opermg a recess and arranged in said-cylinder,-

a pivoted lever extending into said recess whereby movement of. thepiston effects a,

movement of the lever toward the end of its stroke, circuit closing andopening means operated by said lever, means associated with the gearshift lever for connecting said cylinder to the intake manifold of saiden it clos gine whereby the pi stonis moved to operate said lever,asprlnglnterposed between the piston and the cylinder for efle'cting arecovery movement of said piston'to operate said lever, and means forregulating the speed of movement of said piston.

18. An attachment for automobile engines comprisinga base having apassage therethrough and adapted to be connected into the intakemanifold of said engine, a pair of cylinders on said base, a slide valvein said base for connecting the passage therethrough with either of.said cylinders,

means associated with the gear shift lever of said automobile foroperating said slide valve, circuit closing and opening means associatedwith the ignition circuit of the engine, a piston in one of saidcylinders for operating said circuit closing and opening means, meansfor. regulating the speed of movement'of saidpi-ston, a piston valve inthe other of said cylinders for controlling the admission of airthereinto, and means for effecting the recovery movement of both thepiston and the piston valve.

19.- An j attachment forautomobile enengine, "a cylinder, "a piston insaid cylinder for actuating. the stopping means, a second cylinder, apiston valve in said second cyl-,

-1nder for controlling the admission of air thereinto, and meansassociated with the gear shift lever for connecting either of saidcylinders with the intake manifold of said engine.

gines,. comprising means for stopping the 1 I, 20. An attachment forautomobile engines, comprlsing means for stopping the engine, acylinder,apiston insaid cylinder for actuating the stopping means asecond cylinder, a piston valve in said second cylinder for controllingthe admission of air,

thereinto, means associated with the gear .shift lever for connectingeither i of said cylinders with the intake'manifold of'said engine, andmeans for effecting the'recovery movement of said piston and pistonvalve.

.21. An attachment for automobile engines, comprising -means for stoppinfor actuating the stopping means, a second cylinder, a pistonvalve insaid second'cylinder-forcontrolling the admission of air the engine, acylinder, a piston in said cylinder

